1987 BA Business Management, University of Phoenix, Phoenix, AZ
1996 Graduate - Squadron Officers School
2001 Air Command and Staff College
2006 Air War College

Lieutenant Colonel (Retired) Allen Kirksey

Lieutenant Colonel Allen Kirksey was the 161st Air Refueling Wing Chief of Staff, in Phoenix, Arizona. As the Chief of Staff Colonel Kirksey functioned as the executive assistant and advisor to the installation commander, established and maintained liaison with public officials and civic groups, and attended community functions serving as a speaker to create public interest in Air National Guard programs. Colonel Kirksey began this assignment in June 2013, retired from the US Air Force in December 2014, and was hired as the Maricopa High School Air Force JROTC Senior Aerospace Science Instructor in 2017.

Colonel Kirksey was commissioned as a Second Lieutenant in 1988 through the Academy of Military Science and continued on to Intelligence Officer School in July 1988. Prior to receiving his commission, he served in the United States Air Force from July 1979 – July 1983. He completed two operational assignments as a Command and Control Specialist. His first duty assignment was with the 92nd Bomb Wing (SAC), Fairchild AFB, Washington and second assignment with the 435th Tactical Air Wing Rhein Main Air Base, Germany. Colonel Kirksey enlisted the Arizona Air National Guard in 1984 as a drill status guardsman Combat Crew Communications Specialist until 1985 when he was hired full-time as a Command and Control Technician.

After commissioning, Colonel Kirksey served as the 161st Operations Support Flight, Intelligence Branch Chief. In 1998 Colonel Kirksey assumed command of the 161st Security Forces Squadron, in 2005 he was served as the 161st Deputy Mission Support Commander, and in 2006 he assumed command of the 161st Logistics Readiness Squadron. In 1993 he was selected to augment the Air Mobility Command Inspector General Team. He has deployed as the Wing Senior Intelligence Officer in support of Operation Desert Shield, Deny Flight, Phoenix Scorpion, and Southern Watch. In 2001, as the Security Forces Commander he was mobilized in support of Operation Noble Eagle and Enduring Freedom and designated as the 201st Mission Support Squadron Detachment Commander. In 2010, as the Logistics Readiness Squadron Commander he was mobilized in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom, Operation Enduring Freedom and Operation New Dawn and deployed to the US Central Command (USCENTCOM) Deployment and Distribution Operations Center, Camp Arifjan, Kuwait.

Educational Philosophy: I believe that both schools and industry share the common goal of developing well-educated students prepared to take their places in the community as responsible citizens and effective workers. My role is to build and strengthen this alliance to assist students in improving their academic performance, developing school-to-work and leadership opportunities, and providing career guidance and mentoring for them to gain knowledge and confidence in themselves.